Thursday, September 18, 2008

Creepy Crawlies


It's fall time here on the Oregon Coast, which means that our eight-legged friends are spinning their magic on our rhododendron bushes, dahlia stocks, window frames, front porches and anywhere else that they can get a foothold. The webs are beautiful, the inhabitants kind of creepy, but they mostly live outside and that's alright by me.

Riff and I were tucked away in our cozy bedroom from the fall fog the other night. He was happily snoozing away while I had traveled back to Colonial America and was with Martha Washington meeting George's mean-spirited, unhappy mother at Ferry Farm for the first time. Suddenly, from God-Only-Knows-Where, a large spider appeared right on my thumb. I was instantly back in mid-September 2008, shrieking and flinging both spider and book across the room. Poor Riff was jolted out of his happy state and into my creepy world where he bravely spent a half an hour helping me look for my eight-legged friend while assuring me that he was long gone. Since the creepy crawler was nowhere to be found, we pulled the covers back up and flipped off the light.

For me, sleep did not come easily...

15 comments:

Jeni said...

ACK! I hate spiders -for openers -and if one were that darned close to me -in bed -I'd be having hissy fits until it was found and given the old heave-ho too!

Adrienne said...

Ah yes, the creepies have arrived here in the Valley, too. And I do remember how much they loved our home when we lived in your hometown. I'm not terribly frightened of them but I sure don't want them walking on me! ~Adrienne~

Mary said...

Paula,

I'm glad you are enjoying the book. It is a good read, don't you agree? But the spider isn't something I would like crawling on my thumb. From the looks of it, it was rather large and I have never seen a spider of those colors. What kind was it, do you know?

Take care and have a great day.
Blessings,
Mary

RazorFamilyFarms.com said...

Don't even talk to me about spiders!!!!! Here in Georgia, we find black widows and brown recluse in every corner, on every plant, and in every shoe. They are dreadful and dangerous.

Ugh!!!!

Love your post, though. You have such a great sense of humor!

Twisted Fencepost said...

I don't think I would have been able to sleep until I found the spider.

Anonymous said...

EEEEEECK!

We've been dealing with bats. BATS! Gotta get me one of that bat houses I always see that guy selling from his van. Maybe he has something for spiders too.

I get my house sprayed quarterly for spiders (works on ants too). Never seen a spider in my house. If your interested, I'll give you the name of the co.

Anonymous said...

Yikes!!

Jodi Ohl said...

UHHHH, Yeah...sleep? Wouldn't have happened for me if that thingy was nearby, oh my it gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it!! LOL Your a better woman than I am!

Cris said...

Oh I'd be scared... Hey Paula, just stopped by to wish you a happy weekend! xoxox

Terri said...

I swear I would sell the house!!!! EEEEEK! I hate spiders!

calicodaisy said...

EEWWW! That's crazy at night! With all the rain we had last month, we have an epidemic of PALMETTO bugs running around. I scream while I catch them and ... you know, throw them down the toilet. The screaming gives me courage. It's cooling off and the weather is drier, so hopefully they are gone now.

CatieAn said...

oh paula I am with u!! I hate anything that crawls on me or near me while in the house. When outside in the garden I can see spiders and they are fine where they are. I think I would have slept elsewhere!!
catie

Unknown said...

Wow, That is so scary!
I'll never forget the time I saw a huge brown spider fall behind my dresser. I'm sure it was a Brown Recluse wich is very poisoness.
Of coars Willie was gone hunting.
I didn't sleep much that night!

Jodi Renshaw said...

Hi Paula, I just wanted to let you know that I linked to your site in today's post :)

Love,
Jodi

Anonymous said...

oh my gosh...i would've never been able to go back to sleep. i would've spent the next two or three nights sleeping downstairs on the couch.